blackmetaltea
Community Member
So, I got anew BTA about two weeks ago. It really hasn't eaten. It is looking fine and bubbled, just closing up anytime I try to feed it. Any ideas? Is it okay? I'm using 165 w Chinese black box leds.
Bubble anemone not eating
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damon.strange.5
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The only thing I can answer for you or tell you is a BTA doesn't require food. Yes you can feed it but it isn't necessary to survive. As far as it being healthy, I don't know looks a little bleached and not sure if your lights are enough but then again I'm really no expert. Stand by someone with more knowledge will be right with you.
Brautumn
Active Member
As previous post you don't have to feed them directly as they will catch food when feeding the other fish. I agree it does look a little bleached and not sure if you got it this way or not. We have 5 anemones and they are under leds and all have great color. If it wasn't under leds before it could be shocked from them if they are turned up to high. Hopefully it will adjust but watch to make sure it doesn't go mushy as it will hurt your tank.
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blackmetaltea
Community Member
I think it is a little bleached. I got it in compensation for helping out at my lfs. I'm not sure if it's suppose to be rose colored or green. They had it under strong led's. I am giving it less light time per day to get used to them, and hopefully help out with the bleaching. It was doing pretty poorly when I put it in the tank, but at least it's bubbling up now and responding to touch / light. (It wasn't before)
reef_junkie
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I have the wierdest great luck with BTA's and that guy does look a little washed out. Try dosing IODIDE. I use the aqua vitro product twice monthly with my nems and they are super brightly colored and very well bubbled.
cmac330
Active Member
Too much light can be very hard on BTA's as they are not as high light loving as many believe and I tend to find they prefer around 100 par. LEDs can (not always, and better fixtures obviously are going to have less issues) give them issues as they are narrow in spread and create hot spots which is an issue for mobile nem IMO because places are either too high or too low and they can't find that sweet spot as easily. Temp can also be an issue if too high especially when talking bleaching. That nem looks as though it has begun to consume its own tentacles which is a sign of mal-nourishment which I would attribute to the bleaching (kill the zooaxanthelle, kill the majority food source). Eating is a considerable amount of work for anemones and one in that state of health will see more negative than positive from feedings.
All that said, they are hardy and can come back from this. Try to keep from messing with it, make sure it is getting adequate flow and decent light but not blasted with either. DO NOT FEED until you see the tentacles have fully recovered and even then you might wait another month. Make sure your temp is about 78, but definitely below 80. Keep your pH stable (number doesn't matter if in the 7.8-8.4 range) up and down swings can be stressful for organisms that use channels to pump in and out as much as nems do (constant changes to the gradient are likely hard to adapt to).
All that said, they are hardy and can come back from this. Try to keep from messing with it, make sure it is getting adequate flow and decent light but not blasted with either. DO NOT FEED until you see the tentacles have fully recovered and even then you might wait another month. Make sure your temp is about 78, but definitely below 80. Keep your pH stable (number doesn't matter if in the 7.8-8.4 range) up and down swings can be stressful for organisms that use channels to pump in and out as much as nems do (constant changes to the gradient are likely hard to adapt to).
Clayalaleona
Well-Known Member
Do not dose anything you are not testing for.
How long ago did you get it? Try just letting it do its own thing. The more you fool with anemones the worse they do IMO. If your water is good and your lighting is stable leave it alone. If they dont like the light they'll move.
As for feeding if it doesnt want food dont force it let it get get used to your tank and then try some fish/ raw shrimp etc.
How long ago did you get it? Try just letting it do its own thing. The more you fool with anemones the worse they do IMO. If your water is good and your lighting is stable leave it alone. If they dont like the light they'll move.
As for feeding if it doesnt want food dont force it let it get get used to your tank and then try some fish/ raw shrimp etc.
Brewman1987
Well-Known Member
The BTA appears to be bleached, when you tried to feed it were the tentacles sticky at all? How quickly did it close up and do the tentacles appear any shorter than when you first bought it?
I would consider using ciprofloxacin and treat it in another tank.
Here is my post on how I saved mine.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-experience-with-using-ciprofloxacin-to-save-a-bta.238518/
I would consider using ciprofloxacin and treat it in another tank.
Here is my post on how I saved mine.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-experience-with-using-ciprofloxacin-to-save-a-bta.238518/
Keepswiming
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I would do nothing. It doesn't look bad. Keep your water quality and let it get use to your tank. Often livestock need time to acclimate to their new environment before they will eat anything.
ash9965
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Can you use Cipro in main display tank ?
Brewman1987
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I would not, it will kill all the good bacteria in the main tank.
ReeferReefer
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How are you feeding it? You can try small pieces of table shrimp, Larry's Reef Frenzy or Mysis. You may need to offer a variety of sizes to figure out what it likes.
jayjigga
Active Member
It honestly looks pretty decent. I'd let it settle and just chill. I've had some sticky and readily accepting food and I've had some that just wouldn't eat. Just let him be and keep what you can control stable.
